Loom



Nov. 11, 1941'. -r. R. SARGENT Filed Nov. 1, 1940 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 LOOM Tracy R. Sargent, Travellers Rest, S. 0., assignor of one-half to Frank G. Powers, Slater, S. 0.

Application November 1, 1940, Serial No. 363,947

4 Claims.

My invention relates to looms and has particular reference to the operating means for the picker stick.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the action of the picker stick for materially increasing the life of the picker.

A further object of the invention is to provide yielding means for checking the movement of the operating crank and yielding means for checking the movement of the picker stick upon the picking stroke, the combined action of the two yielding means causing the picker stick to be brought to rest in a manner whereby the life of the picker is materially prolonged and the life of the yielding checking means properly preserved.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to properly bring the picker stick to rest, at theend of the picking stroke, while at the same time eliminating the usual buffer which engages the picker at the end of the picking stroke.

A further object of the invention is to arrange the buffer for the picker stick near its lower end, thereby affording a relatively long portion of the picker stick above such buffer, which long portion possesses some flexibility or resiliency which materially reduces the destructive effect that the picker stick has on the walls of the picker through which the picker stick passes.

A further object of the invention is to provide checking or buffing means which are arranged in the lower portion of the frame of the loom, out of the way of the operating parts of the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a checker or buffer which is of simplified construction and which is durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the fllowing description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of the lay and associated elements of a loom, parts of the frame of the loom being in section,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the operating crank checker or buffer, the operating crank being in section,

Figure 3 is a perspective View of one of the buffer elements,

Figure 4 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through the contact end of the picker stick checker or buifer,

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective View of certain elements of the picker stick checker or buffer, and,

Figure 6 is a plan view of the picker.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 designates a portion of the frame of the loom, in the bottom of which is arranged a rocker H. The loom comprises a lay [2, supported by swords [3. The numeral l4 designates a shuttle box, upon which is mounted a picker guide rod l5, having a picker [6 slidable thereon. The return stroke of the picker is limited by a yielding checker or buffer ll, formed of a folded section of leather, having openings to receive the rod l5. The usual checker or buffer upon the inner end of the rod l5, corresponding to the buffer 11, is omitted, as the present invention permits of the dispensing of this element. The numeral I 8 designates a picker stick pivoted at its lower end at IE, to the rocker I I and swung outwardly by a spring 20 through the medium of a strap 2|. The picker stick [8 passes through an opening 22 formed in the shank of the picker It, as shown. The numeral 23 designates an upstanding operating crank, carried by a rock shaft 24, suitably journaled in a fixed bearing 25. At is upper end, the operating crank 23 is pivotally connected with a link 26, as shown at 21, and this link is connected with a flexible loop 28, formed of leather or the like, which surrounds the picker stick [8. Any suitable means may be employed to support the loop 28, such as a strap 29.

The loom thus described is substantially the same as that shown in Patent 599,677 of March 1, 1898. The picker 16 of of a type shown in Patent 1,989,910 issued February 5, 1936. The loom and picker are shown for the purposes of illustration and the invention is not restricted to the precise form of loom or picker disclosed.

An important feature of my invention is a checker or buffer 30 for the operating crank 23, to bring this operating crank to rest when it approaches or reaches the end of its picking stroke. This picker or buffer comprises a U- shaped bracket 3|, which is horizontal and straddles the upstanding operating crank 23. The U-shaped bracket is arranged near and above the rock shaft 24 and the free ends of the arms of this bracket are bent laterally to produce extensions 32, which are bolted or otherwise rigidly attached to a lower horizontal portion 33 of the frame Ill, as shown at 34. The U-shaped bracket receives and holds shock absorbing or buffer elements 35, which may be sections of leather, having notches 36 in their ends, to receive the sides of the U-shaped bracket. These sections of leather provide a suitable yielding or resilient cushion to contact with the operating crank 23 as it nears or approaches the end of its picking stroke, whereby the cushion will bring the operating crank to rest, eliminating excessive jars and strains.

'36 and is properly brought to rest.

I also provide a checker or buffer 31, for the picker stick. This picker stick checker or buffer includes a horizontal bracket 38 having a downturned end 39. Thisend 3 is rigidly attached to the horizontal portion 33 by a bolt 40 or the like. At its free end, the bracket 38 has a downturned end 4|, carrying a buffer element or cushion 42. This buifer element or cushion includes a rubber head 43, which is preferably cylindrical and has a transverse opening 44 to receive a bolt 45 and a recess 46 to receive the head of the bolt. The buffer or cushion further comprises a normally substantially cylindrical outer portion, preferably formed from a strip of leather 4'! or the like which is wound spirally about the rubber head t? and has openings 48, to receive the bolt 45. This bolt passes through an opening 49 in the down-turned end 4! and carries a nut 50, as shown. The buffer element or cushion &2 is suitably resilient and compressible and is arranged upon the inner side of the picker stick in the path of travel of the same and will be engaged by the picker stick when the picker stick nears or approaches the end of its picking stroke, to bring the picker stick to rest, eliminating undue shocks and jars, and the whipping action of the picker stick, which sometimes causes the shuttle to be thrown from the loom.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When the operating crank 23 is rapidly swung to the right, Figure 1, during the picking stroke, it engages the cushion of the checker or buffer When the operating crank 23 is swung to the right, Figure 1, the strap 28 rapidly swings or throws the picker stick [8 to the right, on its picking stroke, and when the picker stick nears or approaches the end of its picking stroke it engages the buffer element or cushion 42, and the picker stick is properly brought to rest. The buffer for the operating crank 23 brings the operating crank to rest at the end of its picking stroke so that undue shocks, strains or jars will not be transmitted to the picker stick [8, and the buffer 33 for the picker stick brings the picker stick to rest as it nears or approaches the end of its picking stroke, so that the picker stick will not transmit undue jars, strains or shocks to the picker it.

As is well known, in the operation of the ordinary loom, such as a Crompton and Knowles loom, or a Draper loom, the conventional picker which is formed of rawhide and corresponds generally to the picker shown in Patent 1,989,910,

such picker will last for about eighteen days. 7 The picker is driven nine days at the end of which it will be found that the shuttle has damaged the head of the picker and the picker is then reversed so that the opposite end of its head is employed to drive the shuttle and the picker may then be used for nine additional days. This is the average life of a conventional rawhide picker. By actual test, I have found that by providing my improved buifer for the opera-ting crank, used in connection with my buffer for the picker stick, that the life of the ordinary rawhide picker is materially increased. I have operated a loom with my buffers applied thereto and found that the test indicates that the ordinary rawhide picker would last for at least ninety days. I have operated a loom with my invention applied thereto and the picker lasted for over fifty days without being reversed. There is also an advantage in arranging the picker stick buffer near the lower end of the picker stick. This leaves a relatively long portion of the picker stick above the buffer, and the picker stick is flexible to a certain extent, and this slight flexing has been found advantageous in connection with the rawhide picker, for the picker stick then does not tend to destroy the walls of the opening of the picker through which it passes. Further, it is advantageous to arrange the buffers in the lower portion of the loom frame as they are out of the Way of operating parts of the loom.

While it is preferred to use the buffer for the operating crank with the buffer for the picker stick, yet some degree of success can be obtained by using the operating crank buffer alone. I have found it difiicult to successfully employ the buffer for the picker stick alone, as the action of the operating crank is so severe that it readily destroys the picker stick buffer.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A loom comprising a picker stick, a picker having an opening to receive the upper end of the picker stick, an operating crank arranged near the lower end of the picker stick, connecting means between the operating crank and picktherein, and a fibrous buffer element mounted upon the generally u-shaped bracket and arranged to engage with the operating crank when it approaches the end of its picking stroke.

3. A m comprising a frame and picker stick, a picker operated 'by the picker stick, an operating crank, means to rock the operating crank, connecting means between the operating crank and the picker stick, and a buffer element to engage with the operating crank when it approaches the end of its picking stroke, the buffer element including layers of fibrous material, said layers having notches, and a generally U-shaped bracket having sides to engage within the notches, said bracket being secured to the frame and positionedto receive the operating crank.

4. A loom comprising a picker stick, a picker having an opening to receive the upper end of the picker stick, an operating crank arranged near the lower end of the picker stick, connecting means between the operating crank and picker stick, means to rock the operating crank, a stationary bracket and a buffer mounted upon the bracket and arranged to engage with the operating crank when it approaches the end of its. picking stroke. 7

TRACY R. SARGENT. 

